Handheld gaming programs are having a second. Whereas folks have been gaming on the go because the days of the Recreation Boy, the previous couple of years have introduced a tidal wave of units that allow you to play all types of video games wherever you need. As a result of new handhelds appear to launch each week, although, determining which of them are literally value your consideration could be overwhelming. You do not want us to let you know the Nintendo Change is nice, however relying in your tastes, the fitting handheld may very well be a $70 emulation machine or an $800 moveable PC. That can assist you minimize by the noise, we’ve researched the most effective handheld gaming consoles, examined a number of high contenders and laid out those we like essentially the most proper now.
Desk of contents
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Greatest gaming handhelds for 2025
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Different gaming handhelds we have examined
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What to know in regards to the gaming handheld market
Greatest gaming handhelds for 2025
Different gaming handhelds we have examined
Observe: This can be a choice of noteworthy gaming handhelds we’ve examined, not a complete checklist of the whole lot we have ever tried.
MSI Claw 8 AI+
The unique MSI Claw was a flop, however the newer Claw 8 AI+ is way more interesting in case you’re keen to pay for a bigger and barely extra highly effective different to the ASUS ROG Ally X. With its Intel Core Extremely 7-258V chip and 32GB of RAM, it sometimes pumped out 10 to fifteen % greater body charges than different high-end fashions just like the Ally X and Lenovo Legion Go in our testing. Battery life is comparatively robust, whereas its 8-inch 120Hz IPS show is a lot brilliant and helps VRR. There are easy Corridor impact thumbsticks and triggers, two Thunderbolt 4 ports and a built-in fingerprint sensor past that.
The Claw’s principal difficulty is its worth: At $900, it’s onerous to justify over the ROG Ally X, which is already too costly for most individuals. ASUS’ handheld is smaller, lighter and usually extra moveable on high of that— although the Claw is thinner — and its Armoury Crate software program, whereas removed from good, continues to be a bit extra polished than MSI’s Heart M hub.
It’s value noting that MSI has a smaller 7-inch model of this handheld for $800, the identical worth because the ROG Ally X, however we haven’t examined that one but.
Lenovo Legion Go
The Lenovo Legion Go is one other succesful different to the ASUS ROG Ally X with a good bigger show. It runs on the identical Ryzen Z1 Excessive chip and gives an analogous set of efficiency modes, but it surely has a mondo-sized 8.8-inch panel with a sharper 2,560 x 1,600 decision and a better 144Hz refresh charge. It additionally borrows some concepts from the Change, together with removable controllers and a built-in kickstand for enjoying video games in a tabletop mode. These controllers have touchpads to make navigating Home windows a bit simpler, one thing the ROG Ally X lacks.
Nevertheless it’s nonetheless a Home windows handheld, and Lenovo’s software program tweaks aren’t as intuitive as what ASUS has accomplished with Armoury Crate, so the UX can really feel half-baked by comparability. The jumbo design is bulkier and heavier than the ROG Ally X, so some will discover it too fatiguing to carry. Its followers are louder as nicely, plus the show lacks VRR. Lenovo teased a Legion Go 2 at CES earlier this 12 months, although it hasn’t shared a launch date or pricing particulars as of our newest replace.
Lenovo Legion Go S (Home windows model)
The Lenovo Legion Go S has a comparatively comfy design and a commendable 8-inch 120Hz show, however its efficiency lags too far behind the ROG Ally X, Claw 8 AI+ and unique Legion Go for a tool priced at $730. Home windows continues to be as clunky as ever, too. We’re extra excited to check the SteamOS model that’s scheduled to reach in Could, as that ought to be one of many first non-Valve units to make the most of the Steam Deck’s software program.
Ayaneo Flip DS
The Ayaneo Flip DS is a cool idea: a strong Home windows machine with a clamshell design and twin shows, type of like a supercharged Nintendo DS. It feels sturdy, it performs roughly on par with the opposite Ryzen 7 7840U (or 8840U) handhelds on this information, and its 7-inch high show is sharp, quick and brilliant. The second display makes it a pure match for emulating Wii U or 3DS video games, however you would additionally, say, search for a information or play a YouTube video with out having to shut no matter you’re taking part in.
Sadly, that is extra of a neat concept than a completely thought-out product. The folding design implies that the joysticks need to be quick and recessed, whereas the face buttons and d-pad are uncomfortably flat. The entire thing is overly thick and heavy, plus it runs very popular. Battery life tops out round two hours, and truly managing two shows on a Home windows handheld is about as clunky as you’d anticipate. With costs beginning above $800, the Flip DS is difficult to advocate until you’re (oddly) determined for a handheld Wii U emulator. We’re at all times comfortable to see extra bizarre {hardware}, although.
Ayaneo Kun
The Ayaneo Kun is among the many most decadent Home windows handhelds we’ve examined. With a pointy 8.4-inch show, a Ryzen 7 8840U chip, as much as 64GB of RAM, as much as 4TB of storage, a large 75Wh battery and a 54W max TDP, it’s each a succesful gaming machine and a possible alternative for a desktop PC. Nevertheless it prices nicely over $1,000, it’s large and it suffers from the same old Home windows-related points. It additionally lacks VRR. It’s nonetheless a nice machine if cash is actually no object, but it surely’s extra handheld than most want. The ROG Ally X is a significantly better worth. That is technically an older mannequin for Ayaneo, too, as the corporate appears to launch a brand new handheld each different hour lately.
Ayaneo 2S
The Ayaneo 2S is one other high-power Home windows handheld with a sharper show and better configuration choices than the ROG Ally X. It additionally makes use of the identical chip because the Kun above. Nevertheless it’s restricted to a 60Hz refresh charge and prices a number of hundred {dollars} additional. Ayaneo introduced a decked-out successor known as the Ayaneo 3 towards the top of 2024; we’ll attempt to check that one out when it turns into obtainable.
Retroid Pocket Mini
The Retroid Pocket Mini is basically a smaller model of the Retroid Pocket 5. It runs on the identical Snapdragon 865 chip and feels simply as sturdy, but it surely has a smaller 3.7-inch show with a 4:3 side ratio. This makes it a extra pure match for older retro consoles, as you gained’t get the black containers you’d see on a 16:9 show just like the one on the Pocket 5. In the event you primarily need to emulate programs just like the SNES, Sega Genesis or Recreation Boy Colour and don’t thoughts paying additional for a wealthy OLED show, it’s an excellent little machine. However the tiny display is limiting in case you ever need to play newer video games, and we want there wasn’t a lot empty house across the show.
This machine has additionally generated some controversy inside the retro gaming group for having persistent points with inaccurate shaders (and for the slapdash means Retroid has dealt with the matter). That should not be a dealbreaker for most individuals, however those that choose to make use of results like these could need to look elsewhere.
Retroid Pocket 4 Professional and Retroid Pocket 4
The 4.7-inch Retroid Pocket 4 Professional is the predecessor to the Pocket 5. Its efficiency isn’t considerably far off the newer mannequin, so it stays a pleasant worth in case you’re decided to spend lower than $200 on an emulation machine. It misses out on the bigger OLED show and extra ergonomically-friendly design of its follow-up, nonetheless. The bottom Pocket 4 may additionally be value a glance if you wish to keep beneath $150, however its weaker chip makes it much less adept at emulating video games from the PS2, GameCube and up.
Miyoo Mini Plus
The Miyoo Mini Plus is a extremely reasonably priced handheld with a well-built, Recreation Boy-style kind issue that matches properly with older video games. Its 3.5-inch show actually pops for one thing within the $60 to $80 vary, its battery lasts so long as it must and it will probably emulate consoles as much as the unique PlayStation with out a lot difficulty. Its Linux-based software program is extensively customizable, although it requires some tinkering to get it working optimally. Nonetheless, of the various Recreation Boy-like emulation handhelds floating across the finances finish of the market, it’s the one we’d advocate first. Because it’s from a smaller Chinese language agency and isn’t obtainable at main retailers, nonetheless, it may be tough to truly purchase.
Anbernic RG35XX Plus
The Anbernic RG35XX Plus is one other wallet-friendly vertical handheld. For about the identical worth because the Miyoo Mini Plus, it gives a quicker chipset, extra RAM and an even bigger battery alongside a equally spectacular design. Its inventory OS is sloppy and cheap-looking, nonetheless, and whereas the stronger processor is sweet, the small display and lack of analog sticks means you gained’t need to emulate a lot past the PS1 anyway.
Anbernic RG35XXSP
The Anbernic RG35XXSP is a variant of the RG35XX Plus primarily based on the identical internals, solely it apes the clamshell kind issue of the outdated Recreation Boy Advance SP. That’s an ideal design to tear off in case you should decide one, and the {hardware} doesn’t really feel practically as low-cost as its $60-ish price ticket would counsel. However the software program points famous above nonetheless apply (each right here and with the various different units in the identical RGXX household). We’ve additionally seen a number of person reviews of high quality management points with the RG35XXSP’s battery, which is mechanically disqualifying.
Anbernic RG405M
The Anbernic RG405M is one other 4:3 handheld with a 4-inch show and a satisfying steel body. It’s an OK different to the Retroid Pocket Mini in order for you a bit extra display house for $50 much less, but it surely’s slower, and it lacks the Mini’s OLED show. We discover the Retroid’s grooved again to be comfier to carry over time as nicely.
PlayStation Portal
The PlayStation Portal is an odd accent that’s designed to stream video games from a PlayStation 5. It lacks built-in apps, so it doesn’t help conventional emulation. As a result of it’s totally depending on the standard of your property Wi-Fi, we are able to’t assure how nicely it’ll really carry out. It doesn’t work with Bluetooth earbuds both.
The 8-inch show is okay and the DualSense-style controls are nice, so PlayStation diehards who desire a second display for native PS5 streaming might even see the enchantment. Sony lately added the flexibility to stream a choice of video games through the cloud, which is a step in the fitting route, however you want an costly PlayStation Plus Premium subscription to take benefit. Basically, there’s little right here you can’t do with a smartphone and cell sport controller, so most individuals are higher off saving their $200.
Logitech G Cloud
The Logitech G Cloud would’ve been an ideal Android decide when it launched if it value about $150 much less. Its 7-inch 1080p show is brilliant, vibrant and usually extra pleasing to take a look at than the panel on the AYN Odin 2, its battery lasts an excellent 10 to 12 hours per cost and its design is cozy to carry for hours at a time. Alas, the G Cloud nonetheless sometimes sells between $260 and $300, which is simply an excessive amount of when the Retroid Pocket 5 gives extra energy at a lower cost.
What to know in regards to the gaming handheld market
You possibly can break down the gaming handheld market into three broad tiers. On the high, you will have x86-based moveable gaming PCs just like the Steam Deck or ASUS ROG Ally X. These are essentially the most highly effective handhelds you should purchase, as they search to duplicate the expertise of a reasonably specced gaming desktop. The Steam Deck runs on the Linux working system, however most others use Home windows. If you wish to play trendy, lately launched PC video games on the go (and want one thing stronger than a Change), that is the kind of machine you’d get. They’ll additionally emulate the widest vary of retro consoles. They’re sometimes the biggest and most cumbersome units to carry, nonetheless, and their battery life could be quick. Naturally, they’re additionally the costliest, costing wherever from $400 to greater than $1,000.
Additional down on the worth spectrum are “cell handhelds” just like the Logitech G Cloud or Retroid Pocket. These units usually run Android or Linux and might vary from beneath $50 to $400-ish. They aren’t geared up to play trendy console or PC titles, however they’re normally extra compact than a conveyable PC, and you may nonetheless use them for cell video games and cloud streaming. Whereas most are marketed towards these ends, many players really purchase them to emulate basic video games by software program like RetroArch. Getting emulators to work could be sophisticated, and accessing the BIOS and ROM information required to play video games this manner is legally murky. One lawsuit from Nintendo lately led to the shutdown of essentially the most outstanding Change and 3DS emulators, as an illustration. (Engadget doesn’t condone piracy.) Backing up information of video games you already personal for private use solely is taken into account extra defensible, although, so for {that a} cell handheld generally is a extra user- and wallet-friendly strategy to play the classics — supplied you don’t need to simply use your cellphone.
We’ll name the final tier “handhelds that do their very own factor.” This can be a catch-all for issues just like the Change or Playdate: moveable units that run closely custom-made software program and intention to offer a singular gaming expertise. They aren’t essentially splendid for emulation or taking part in the most recent multiplatform titles; as an alternative, they usually have distinct sport libraries. They won’t have the widest enchantment consequently (Change excluded), however they’re usually simpler for much less tech-literate of us to simply decide up and use.
Latest updates
March 2025: We’ve edited this information for readability and added testing notes for the MSI Claw 8 AI+ and Lenovo Legion Go S (Home windows model). Our principal picks are unchanged. Trying forward, we’re keeping track of upcoming Home windows handhelds from Acer and Ayaneo, a pair of latest emulation units from Retroid, the primary third-party units to ship with SteamOS and the primary machines to run on AMD’s Ryzen Z2 chips, amongst different releases. Oh, and we’ll additionally study extra in regards to the Nintendo Change 2 in a number of weeks.
January 2025: We now have a brand new high decide amongst emulation-focused handhelds: the Retroid Pocket 5. Past that, we’ve added notes on a number of different units we’ve examined, together with the Retroid Pocket Mini and Anbernic RG35XXSP; evenly edited different blurbs to mirror modifications out there; and eliminated a pair write-ups for merchandise that’ve been discontinued. We’re additionally keeping track of new handhelds that’ve lately been introduced or are strongly rumored to reach within the close to future, together with units from MSI and Lenovo.
August 2024: We’ve changed the ASUS ROG Ally, our prior decide for the most effective Home windows gaming handheld, with the brand new and improved ROG Ally X. We’ve additionally checked to ensure all availability and pricing particulars famous all through the information are correct.
June 2024: We’ve up to date this information to make sure all of our suggestions are updated, including a observe on ASUS’ upcoming ROG Ally X within the course of. We’ve additionally included particulars on two new handhelds we’ve examined since our earlier replace: the MSI Claw and Ayaneo Flip DS. Staying on high of this market is a tall activity, however we’re at the moment taking a look at latest noteworthy releases just like the PSP-esque AYN Odin 2 Mini and the GBA-style Anbernic RG35XXSP as nicely.
This text initially appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/best-handheld-gaming-system-140018863.html?src=rss
